Pure is the first internationally released album by Christchurch, New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra. It became the highest selling New Zealand Album, which Westenra was awarded by at the New Zealand Music Awards of 2004. It was published by the Decca Music Group label in 2003. It was distributed in the United States by Universal Classics in 2004. During its first week of sales it sold 19,068 copies. As of 2007, Pure is the best selling classical album for the 21st century in the UK, and in New Zealand remains the best selling album from a New Zealand artist. [1] [2] Video 'Dreaming of New Zealand' (feat. Hayley Westenra)". Decca Records UK. October 2011 . Retrieved 7 January 2012. Beijing International Film Festival". bjiff.com. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012 . Retrieved 19 May 2012. Hayley Westenra". arts-news.net. 5 December 2013. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014 . Retrieved 17 December 2013. travel.taiwan.cn. 30 April 2013. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013 . Retrieved 2 May 2013.

Christmas Carols with the Troops | Wk52 Christmas Carols with the Troops – ITV Press Centre". Itv.com . Retrieved 15 September 2011. British legends unite with Forces songbirds for charity CD – The Royal British Legion". Britishlegion.org.uk. 6 October 2010. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011 . Retrieved 15 September 2011. Hayley Westenra 'outstanding young person of the world'", The New Zealand Herald, 5 September 2006. Lexis Nexis. Susquehanna University. 4 January 2008.

Hayley Westenra bringing angelic sound to Bournemouth Pavilion". DAILY ECHO. 28 January 2012. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015 . Retrieved 4 February 2012. Westenra is active in contributing to charities around the world. On 26 November 2003, Westenra performed "Pokarekare Ana" and "Amazing Grace" on the 75th anniversary of the Royal Variety Performance show in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on behalf of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund. [98] [99] On making classical music appeal to younger audiences". BBC. 29 September 2008 . Retrieved 18 February 2012.

British album certifications – Hayley Westenra – Pure". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 3 February 2021. During her Paradiso Homecoming Tour from 17 September 2011 to 8 March 2012, Westenra raised charity attention to her UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador appeal and the Christchurch Earthquake Relief fund to help Christchurch rebuild. [118] [119] On 3 March 2011, Westenra, whose hometown is Christchurch, sang the national anthem " God Defend New Zealand" at a vigil service for the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake at Westminster Cathedral, attended by about 5,000 New Zealanders. [114] On 18 March, Westenra performed " Amazing Grace" in the national Christchurch memorial service at Hagley Park in Christchurch. [115] On 27 March, Westenra was invited to read aloud a testimony as part of the Christchurch memorial service at Westminster Abbey. [116] [117]ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2003". Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 12 December 2021. On 6 October, Westenra, whose uncle served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, contributed to the charity CD We Will Remember Them. [113] In the 2010s [ edit ] On 24 August 2012, Westenra staged a concert in the Gŵyl Gobaith Music Festival in Wales to support for charities Cancer Research UK, Wales Air Ambulance, CLIC Sargent and HeadtoHeart. [120] In Christmastime 2012, Westenra was featured on the album Starship Christmas Album along with Justin Bieber and others, to support Starship Children's Health. [121] On 30 November, Westenra lent her support to Kate Winslet's Golden Hat Foundation for a concert in Carnegie Hall. [122] She appeared again for that cause at Carnegie Hall in December 2016.

The Best of Pure Voice includes classical songs such as Amazing Grace, Danny Boy, and Ave Maria. There are also international duets featured, with Andrea Bocelli, Russell Watson, Minako Honda, and Blake. Westenra was born on 10 April 1987 at Christchurch Women's Hospital in Christchurch, New Zealand. [6] Her parents, Gerald and Jill Westenra, have two younger offspring, Sophie and Isaac. Sophie is an academic and teaches law at Oxford. [7] Westenra's grandmother Shirley Ireland was a singer, and her grandfather was a pianist who also played the piano accordion. [8] She has Irish, Dutch and English heritage. [9] [10]

Serving those who serve – the 2008 Poppy Appeal launches in Basra – The Royal British Legion". Britishlegion.org.uk. 23 October 2008. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011 . Retrieved 15 September 2011. Little, Paul (2005). Hayley Westenra: The World at Her Feet. New Zealand: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-301926-0. Artists profile of Hayley Westenra". DECCA Records. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012 . Retrieved 3 August 2011. Hayley Westenra in charge of her career", The New Zealand Herald, 28 April 2007. Lexis Nexis. Susquehanna University. 25 May 2007. Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". Radioscope. 17 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011 . Retrieved 3 February 2021.

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will head the list". bjiff.com. 26 February 2012. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012 . Retrieved 4 March 2012. UNICEF NZ Children's Charity | Helping Children Survive & Thrive". Unicef.org.nz . Retrieved 15 September 2011. Manchester Lowry". The ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE. 5 December 2011. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012 . Retrieved 25 December 2011. a b c d Sexton, Paul; Christie Eliezer; Anastasia Tsioulcas (27 March 2004). "Hayley Westenra: Kiwi Star Impresses the World". Billboard 15 (3). Westenra's third international album, Treasure, was released on 26 February 2007 in the UK. All the songs on this CD were chosen by Westenra, who gave her record company "no say in the matter." She said, "I basically didn't let them in on what I was recording until the last minute so they had no choice. I didn't give them much room to disagree." [32]Westenra Wins UK Award". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011 . Retrieved 15 September 2011. Westenra was the 2004 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards winner of "Highest Selling New Zealand Album" and "International Achievement Award". [20] On 20 February 2004, Prime Minister Helen Clark awarded her for being the first New Zealand artist to receive the tenfold platinum status in the New Zealand market, where she held the number one artist position for 18 weeks. [14] She has won two Japanese Grammies for her work (Song of the Year, " Amazing Grace" and Album of the Year, Pure). Her version of Amazing Grace was used as the theme song for the popular Japanese drama, Shiroi Kyotō (The White Tower). Westenra met the cast of the series during a promotional tour of Japan in October 2003. The Royal Variety Performance 2003". mnetchannel.mnet.co.za. 26 November 2003 . Retrieved 22 January 2012. [ permanent dead link] American Christmas Carol Concert". broadwayworld.com. 14 September 2012 . Retrieved 2 December 2012. A Kiwi classic". todayonline.com. 25 October 2012. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012 . Retrieved 25 October 2012.